When was the last time a live performance swept you away? Inspired by a poem and opera from the 1800s in which handsome rogue Evgeni Onegin visits the Larin family estate (his romantic charms stirring passions long forgotten by its residents), Onegin creators Amiel Gladstone and Veda Hille have turned the story into a hit musical that’s a rock concert, back kitchen party, and love poem. The seven-member cast, sharing the stage with three musicians, begins with a wild opening number where they tell the audience “We hope to please, we hope to charm, we hope to break you open.” For this show only, audiences can bring their drinks into the theatre. Get ready to raise your glass to love!

Produced through the Arts Club's Silver Commissions Project (developing new plays since 2006), Onegin collected ten wins at the 2016 Jessie Richardson Theatre Awards, making history as the first production to win all but one of the awards in the large theatre category.

An Arts Club Theatre Company production
Book, music, and lyrics by Amiel Gladstone and Veda Hille
Based on the poem by Pushkin and the opera by Tchaikovsky

Running time: approximately 2 hours, including intermission

Showtimes
7:30pm start time on weeknights—a great option if you have an early start the next day!

First Friday
Enjoy dessert and coffee after the show—with a chance to meet the actors!

Feb 24

Sat

Paint at the Play
We’ll entertain your 6 to 11 year-olds from 3:30pm to 6:30pm with fun art activities while you enjoy the 4pm show! It’s free with your tickets—call the Box Office at 604-501-5566 to register.

Mar 1

Thu

Talkback Thursday
Stay in the theatre after the show for a chat with the actors.

Mar 3

Sat

VocalEye
Patrons with a visual impairment can enjoy an enhanced theatre experience with this simultaneous live audio description during the 4pm performance. Equipment is available at no charge. Book by phone or in person.

Do you like to find out as much as you can before choosing to see a performance? These four videos will help you do just that. After one finishes the next one will play automatically, or you can jump ahead using the fast forward button.

conversation with actors Josh Epstein and Andrew Wheeler, plus more scenes from the show (1 minute 47 seconds)

How the creators fell in love with Onegin

A Craigslist Cantata was the first collaboration between Onegin co-creators Amiel Gladstone and Veda Hille. The Vancouver Sun has called them “boundary-pushing stars of the Vancouver theatre scene.” Read on as they share some thoughts on the inspiration behind their newest musical adaptation.

Amiel Gladstone says, “After Craigslist Cantata —a play about disconnection—we wanted to do something about connection, something romantic.Onegin felt like the perfect piece to adapt for modern audiences—because these characters’ missed opportunities show us what happens when we don’t embrace love when it comes to you.”

Veda Hille: “When we started writing Onegin, I was ready to dive into grand romance. This show has let me feel things I haven’t felt in ages. Sprawling, messy feelings that led to soaring melodies and hot dreams and some pretty fervent singing.”

The show’s premiere in Vancouver in 2016 and remount in 2017 resulted in standing O’s from audiences and media. The Georgia Straightsaid, “you’re lucky to be alive right now ... because you get to see Onegin.”